Rating: 
Summary: The Jury is out on this compassionate but rambling plea
Review: When the teen awakened in the Santa Fe bed and breakfast, she had no idea who she was. Her only clues were the initials A.O. on her backpack and vague references to Idaho. She also realizes that "Daddy", who took her to this motel, is not her father, but probably her abductor. She calls her self Andi after the nearby Sandia Mountains. Andi vanishes into the mountainous wilderness where she begins to protect the animals from hunters. When Andi meets another adolescent Mary Dark Hope, they form a bond. Mary agrees to help Andi and they soon begin their trek seeking the identity of "Daddy" as a start. Readers need to know that though Mary Dark Hope originally appeared in a Richard Jury novel, BITING THE MOON is not a Jury tale (this reviewer kept waiting for his appearance). The story line is a bit disjointed because too much of the novel is spent on the subplots. This especially is true as Martha Grimes makes compassionate, graphic pleas for animal rights, but ultimately these passages ramble away from the mystery. Mary remains a warm, enigmatic character, whom readers will embrace. The audience will feel much empathy for Andi too, but Ms. Grimes dissipates that for no apparent reason. Though the novel has well-written sections, fans will be better off obtaining a Jury tale to see the author at her awesome best. Harriet Klausner
Rating: 
Summary: A novel of excellent intrigue and strong characterization.
Review: A girl awakens with amnesia with only a strange message as a clue to her past, and decides to run away before the mysterious stranger who abducted her returns. She forges a new life in the wilderness alone until she meets a girl who shares her isolation, and who may be able to help her make a new life. Excellent intrigue and strong characterization.
Rating: 
Summary: Biting the Moon bites...
Review: As an avid fan of Grimes and her Richard Jury novels, I was of course disappointed that these recurring characters were not from the Jury novels. There is no doubt Grimes can write compelling mysteries; she has done so many times and I have been there reading them all. This mish-mash of animal-loving and ham-eating left me unmoved. I do love animals, but I also love a decent storyline and great writing. Ms. Grimes, please return to what you do best. I must ask, "Why do successful authors abandon those characters who brought them that very success?"
Rating: 
Summary: We're not all hillbillies
Review: Colorado is not the south, the dialogue of those from Cripple Creek was very amusing, we don't really sound like that here but then the English probably think Americans all sound the same. And I agree with other reviewers, how can you focus on animal issues and not touch on slaughter-houses, the girls sure did enjoy many meat-laden meals in this book! Too bad they didn't also make a stop at a meat packing plant and free some cows, lambs and chickens!
Rating: 
Summary: If you love animals, you MUST read this book!
Review: First, I loved the book because of it's many topics on animal cruelty. This book is clearly written freestyle-sentences lack structure, has a few typos, and a few loose ends. However, this is my first Grimes book, so I am new to her style. I picked this book up to read about a girl's experience with amnesia, a subject that interests me greatly. I was pleasantly surprised to see an author had the guts to write about such cruel animal abuse. Anyone who loves animals must read this book. The things written about in this book are really happening, right in our own backyards, in our own little small towns. Everyone needs to know these things are going on. I'm glad Grimes is such a popular author, this book may very well educate many people who choose to look the other way. This book may not be high on my list of favorites, but it definitely sends a message. Way to go Mary!
Rating:
Summary: Geographical Error
Review: Good story; however there is a slight geographical error in that the Sandia Mountains are in Albuquerque which is about 60 miles south of Santa Fe and the mountains near Santa Fe are called the Sangre de Christos.
Rating:
Summary: Far-fetched
Review: Grimes's writing style is as smooth as ever, but I couldn't get past the premise of two teenagers galavanting across the U.S. like Thelma and Louise. Andi had already been preyed upon once; Mary had seen the dark side of life with the death of her sister. Am I to believe these two intelligent young women would just hit the road, chasing a child molester, as if they were going on Spring Break? And if the think-tank doctor was such a genius, how could he let Andi and Mary wander off after hearing that horrible story. It just doesn't wash. Also, although I am sympathetic to animal rights issues, this book covered too many-trapping, coyote population control, dogfights, crooked vets, and canned hunts. It would have been better to focus one or two issues, because in the end, the overwhelming amount of controversial topics detracted from all of them. I didn't expect to see Richard Jury in this novel, so I wasn't disappointed in that respect. But I did feel this novel was rushed and not as finely crafted as some of her others.
Rating:
Summary: Very disappointing!
Review: I agree with all the others who opine that Ms. Grimes should stick with what/who she knows best -- Richard Jury and company. As others have said, this book was pretty vague in many details and I didn't get the sense of knowing the characters that I prefer. Also, the ending was completely unsatisfying for me!
Rating:
Summary: disappointing
Review: I am a loyal Grimes reader, but was very disappointed by this book. I had to force myself to finish it. I felt that the plot was uninteresting and unrealistic. I hope her next book restores my faith.
Rating:
Summary: no follow up on details
Review: I assume Andi was a ghost from the bus crash but why did she take all those polaroids "just in case" and Grimes never followed up on that? Little details like that that she went to great pain to mention, that you assume she'll eventually bring all together and she never does!!! And what was the point of the river trip and the drowning? We never got an explanation. Did Grimes just get tired of writing or sacrifice detail to make her deadline? I think it would have been clever to have had Mary Dark Hope travel back through Utah and stop by the orphanage or the library and see Andi's picture and name and maybe learn a bit about her. I would have liked to have known Andi's real name but if the point was to make you wonder if she was a ghost and Mary Dark Hope was on a Quest then I can see why Grimes didn't go there.
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